A woman lost her left leg after allegedly stepping on a suspected explosive device while grazing cattle in Bazaghari village under Irang Part-II in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Tuesday, triggering fresh fears among villagers over the presence of unexploded bombs or landmines in their fields and grazing grounds.
The victim, identified as Durga Devi Bhattarai, aged around 41 years and mother of three, was reportedly grazing cattle in a nearby field between 10 am and 11:45 am when she accidentally stepped on the suspected explosive device concealed in the ground, triggering a powerful explosion.
She sustained critical injuries, resulting in the amputation of her left leg. She was initially rushed to Kangpokpi Christian Hospital for emergency medical attention before being shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, for further treatment.
Her husband, Jeevan Bhattarai, secretary of Bazaghari village, said the explosion occurred while his wife was tending to their cattle in the village's surrounding fields.
The incident has raised serious concerns over the possible presence of more unexploded explosive devices in the area, particularly as it was reportedly the third explosion in the locality within four to five days.
According to the victim's family, a buffalo/cow belonging to Amar Bahadur Basnet, another resident of Bazaghari village, died on Monday after allegedly coming into contact with a similar explosive device in the same area.
Villagers also reported hearing another explosion four to five days ago, suspected to have been triggered when a wild animal accidentally stepped on an explosive device.
The repeated incidents have plunged the village into fear, with residents apprehensive about entering their agricultural fields or taking livestock out for grazing amid the looming threat of further explosions.
Fearing that more explosive devices could be buried or concealed across the surrounding fields and grazing areas, villagers have urged the authorities to immediately intervene, register a case and launch a thorough investigation to establish the nature and origin of the explosives and determine how they came to be present in the area.
They have also sought the urgent deployment of a Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) to conduct a comprehensive search and sanitisation operation to detect and neutralise any remaining explosive devices before further casualties occur.
Meanwhile, Soshim (Simsim) Gurung, a social worker, visited the injured woman at RIMS Hospital, Imphal, and expressed concern over the incident.
The Manipur Gorkha Welfare Union (MGWU) strongly condemned what it described as a heinous act and expressed solidarity with the victim's family, pledging to stand with them in their pursuit of justice.
Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity, Sadar Hills (CoTU), has strongly condemned the alleged planting of landmines and explosive devices in civilian-populated areas of the Twilang region, accusing armed NSCN-IM and ZUF-K cadres of creating a deadly environment in which even ordinary livelihood activities have become life-threatening.
CoTU alleged that the armed NSCN-IM and ZUF-K factions have demonstrated a chilling disregard for civilian lives by allegedly placing explosive devices in areas frequented by ordinary villagers, leaving innocent residents vulnerable to potentially fatal explosions.
"The apparent willingness to leave deadly explosives in places frequented by ordinary villagers demonstrates a chilling disregard for civilian safety, where even a woman tending cattle cannot be assured of returning home alive," the Committee said.
Bhattarai, a mother of three and wife of Jeevan Bhattarai, secretary of Bazaghari village, reportedly stepped on a suspected explosive device concealed in a grazing field. The incident was reportedly the third explosion in the locality within four to five days. A villager's livestock also died on Monday after allegedly coming into contact with a similar device.
Describing the incidents as an intolerable assault on civilian dignity and the fundamental right to life, CoTU said agricultural fields and grazing grounds must not be turned into potential minefields amid armed hostilities.
Invoking international humanitarian law, the Committee cited Articles 3(7) and 3(8) of the 1996 Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), which prohibit directing mines and booby-traps against civilians and their indiscriminate use.
CoTU called upon the Government of India and the Manipur government to take stringent and decisive measures against the armed NSCN-IM and ZUF-K factions and ensure accountability under the law.
It also demanded the immediate deployment of a Bomb Disposal Squad to thoroughly inspect and sanitise the affected areas to prevent further civilian casualties.
Reiterating its solidarity with the victim and her family, CoTU maintained that no political ambition, territorial claim or armed struggle could justify exposing innocent civilians to indiscriminate violence.
"A grazing field must never become a death trap. Civilian lives must never become collateral damage of armed ambitions," the Committee asserted.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
